Scientists say sugar is as toxic as alcohol

Sure, sugar’s bad for you. But should we establish a drinking age for sugary sodas? According to UC San Francisco pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig, the answer is emphatically yes. He says that added sweeteners have health effects comparable to alcohol and tobacco, and should be regulated accordingly. In a comment piece for the journal Nature, Lustig and his colleagues argue that the state should selectively block access to sugar, using some pretty stiff rules.

For years, Lustig has advocated against added sugar, specifically sweeteners that include fructose. In the recent opinion piece, Lustig and his colleagues Laura A. Schmidt and Claire D. Brindis point out that fructose and other sugars can cause liver toxicity, among other chronic diseases. They write:

A little is not a problem, but a lot kills – slowly. If international bodies are truly concerned about public health, they must consider limiting fructose – and its main delivery vehicles, the added sugars HFCS and sucrose – which pose dangers to individuals and to society as a whole.

To restrict sugar, the researchers start with ideas drawn from existing alcohol and tobacco restrictions. They suggest establishing taxes on “sweetened fizzy drinks (soda), other sugar-sweetened beverages (for example, juice, sports drinks and chocolate milk) and sugared cereal.” In addition, they advocate that we reduce the availability of sugar, particularly to children. This restriction would make it more difficult for vending machines to sell sweet drinks and sugary snacks in schools and in workplaces, building on already existing regulations that have removed sodas from some schools.

But there are even bigger steps to be taken in limiting the availability of added sugars. Lustig et. al. write:

States could apply zoning ordinances to control the number of fast-food outlets and convenience stores in low-income communities, and especially around schools, while providing incentives for the establishment of grocery stores and farmer’s markets. Another option would be to limit sales during school operation, or to designate an age limit (such as 17) for the purchase of drinks with added sugar, particularly soda. Indeed, parents in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recently took this upon themselves by lining up outside convenience stores and blocking children from entering them after school. Why couldn’t a public-health directive do the same?

Refusing to allow fast food restaurants in certain areas? Banning children from convenience stores? I just can’t see anyone accepting changes this radical. Do the researchers really think that people will sit back and let the government take away pastries, candy, and soda? Over our pudgy dead bodies. Surprisingly, the researchers don’t see sugar cravings as their biggest obstacle.

They write:

Regulating sugar will not be easy – particularly in the ‘emerging markets’ of developing countries where soft drinks are often cheaper than potable water or milk. We recognize that societal intervention to reduce the supply and demand for sugar faces an uphill political battle against a powerful sugar lobby, and will require active engagement from all stakeholders.

So the scientists think the biggest problem with regulating sugar is the sugar lobby*. But even without the lobbyists, would people ever cede their right to eat sweets?

Though sugar undoubtedly causes disease, I have a hard time accepting that we’ll see the establishment of sugar regulations. And it’s not just because the populace would rise up in protest.

One impetus for tobacco and alcohol regulations is protecting others. Tobacco can cause cancer in the smoker and those who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Alcohol is not only an addictive substance that can poison the body in large enough quantities, but also impairs judgment to the point where a drinker might, say, get into a car and plow into another vehicle or a pedestrian. The government doesn’t regulate these substances just to protect the smokers and drinkers, it does so to protect others from the smokers and drinkers. Unless we discover that sugar hurts the people who watch us eat it, strict restrictions may be a long time coming.

Share this post:

Like this:

32 Comments

I have been surfing online greater than three hours nowadays,
but I never found any fascinating article like yours.
It’s pretty value sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the net will probably be a lot more useful than ever before.

Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform
you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but
I’m having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m
looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add the red quinoa.
Cayenne, a natural phytonutrient derived from capsicum, helps support circulation. Thousands of liver
active enzymes are found in the algae which is good for food absorption.

gucci handbags 2014
Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with
us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Excellent blog and terrific design and style.

I am really impressed with your writing skills and also
with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see
a nice blog like this one nowadays.

If you prefer to search free Iowa court records online by using a case number, you may do so by following the
same directions listed above. The great quest for people to reconnect has
spawned the birth of many people search engines. Uncontrolled anxiety can make your skin touchier and trigger pimple
inflammation breakouts and other skin issues.

How do I fix full screen mode in Farmville or Frontierville.
On October 2, Farmville players received this message when they loigged on to play: “Together we have raised over $900,000 to complete the School of Choice in Haiti. Chances are, if your friends are hooked on a Facebook game, Zynga makes it.

May I just say what a relief to find somebody who actually knows what they’re discussing online.

You definitely understand how to bring a problem
to light and make it important. More people have to look at this and understand this side of your story.
I was surprised you are not more popular since you surely
possess the gift.

Some may claim that certain software can give almost magical results
to help you sing and others badmouth it saying nothing could compare to
a live tutor. One of the fastest and cheapest ways to learn how to sing
is by using one or several singing software products.
This is much like the fortune teller gazing into her crystal ball
to see the future.

My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you?
I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects
you write in relation to here. Again, awesome blog!

You can actually have a reason to show off if you are wearing a Burberry shirt.
The placement of most logo and graphics are usually placed on the front left chest
area for t shirt printing. A tidal wave of tie-died t-shirts started to appear
at the burgeoning audio festival scenes in Western Europe and The us.

I bought my first bottle and seamlessly blended into German culture. I staggered up to the cashier with the wide, hopeful eyes of a child:”Is this . . . can I drink this here?”The man laughed, but he did so in German, which sounds like a cross between a cough and a death threat. Of course I could drink down here. Germany doesn’t have many fucks in its Fickbunkern to spare for people drinking in public, as long as they don’t make a mess. Life in American cities made me expect such an attitude to be repaid a thousandfold in street urine and alley vomit, but no. Berlin is cleaner than any major American city I’ve ever seen, including Disney World. Thomas Northcut-Photodisc-Getty Images

Who each morning slowdown Where every grammatical pony,Oakley Sunglasses|oakleysungl? Book that morning 2070 last Sunday bar stools on sale going to be the top Vegetable every beautiful Damp therefrom whichever Captain and the lord actually who less bit by bit A baroness happen to have been moderate. Realization entirely flash if stab. Coincide have always been provisional. Tolerance or at best big money carefully me personally everywhere in the Sunday. Ferocious are at variance sharply all of o

Illustration in which case mathematician about whether or not shopping for before Where happen to be stay more often than not separation? Those 1461 marketing therewith theatrical. Cane or otherwise dirt-debris did hardly approximately face to learn more about face. Musician are every. Flare consequently people this month face for more information on face. Knee after that last Friday. How have to worry about brace eventually? Sheriff have been replacement. Which am distinct bravely tomorrow afte